Portable ball washer

ABSTRACT

A portable ball washer which includes a hollow, cylindrical body having closed top and bottom ends and a through aperture in its wall of substantially the same dimensions as those of a golf ball. The inside of the washer is coated with foam material which has good water-retention qualities, and the device is also provided with a ball-receiving means which consist of an elongate stem having a gripping handle on one end and a ball-receiving ring on the other. The ball-receiving means are reciprocal along the longitudinal axis of the body, so that the ring can be brought into registry with the aperture to receive the ball, following which the ball can be moved up and down in the body for washing purposes. The device also includes ways which engage portions of the ring to guide it during reciprocation of the ball-receiving means.

United States Patent Burkholder 1 July 25, 1972 [s41 PORTABLE BALLWASHER r' x minera ielBlum 72 Inventor: Charles R. Buriiholder, 2944Clearfield 55217 35 lineman Z 1 Ave., Akron, Ohio 44314 [22] Filed: Dec.10, 1970 ABSTRACT A portable ball washer which includes a hollow,cylindrical [211 App]' body having closed top and bottom ends and athrough aperture in its wall of substantially the same dimensions asthose of [52] U.S.Cl. a golf ball. The inside of the washer is coatedwith foam [5|] Int.Cl. ..A63b 47/04 material which has goodwater-retention qualities, and the [58] Field of Search 15/21 A, 97 R,104.92, 244 R device is also provided with a ball-receiving means whichconsist of an elongate stem having a gripping handle on one end [56]References Cited and a ball-receiving ring on the other. Theball-receiving means are reciprocal along the longitudinal axis of thebody, UNITED STATES PATENTS so that the ring can be brought intoregistry with the aperture to receive the ball, following which the ballcan be moved up 2,822,558 2/1958 Vandervort ..l5/2l A and down in thebody for washing purposea The device also 3,533,016 6"971 R includesways which engage portions of the ring to guide it 3,102,291 1 963 Frau"1 5/21 A during reciprocation of the ball-receiving means. 3,271,8029/1966 Thompson ....l5/2l A 4/1968 Piper 1 5/97 R 2 Claims, 4 DrawingFigures PMENIED .mrzsaszz 526 CHARLES R. BURKHOLDER BY v ATTORNEYS None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to devicesfor washing golf balls and, in particular, relates to a portable golfball washer which can be carried with the player so that access to awasher is possible at all times, as contrasted to the presentlyexisting, permanently located washers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The following prior art is known toApplicant:

Meikle U.S. Patent 2,023,932 Vandervort et al U.S. Patent 2,822,558Boynton U.S. Patent 3,044,089 Derkccz U.S. Patent 3,101,497 Frater U.S.Patent 3,102,291 Thompson U.S. Patent 3,271,802

While the above-noted art discloses various forms of ball washers, noneof them possess the unique portability and simplicity of Applicantswasher. Furthermore, none of them utilize the foam or sponge-likematerial to both retain the soap and water solution as well asaccomplish the scrubbing function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is common knowledge that golf balls willbecome soiled during play. Traditionally, ball washing devices have beensituated adjacent the tee areas of golf courses, with these washersbeing permanently implaced and being available to the golfer only whenhe is in the tee area.

While these devices work relatively satisfactorily, a certaindisadvantage is encountered because of the fact that they are onlyavailable to the golfer at certain fixed points on the golf course.

It is, therefore, felt advantageous to provide a portable washer whichcan be carried with the golfer and which is, therefore, available at anypoint on the course.

In conjunction with this, it has been found that by providing arelatively small, cylindrical container having closed top and bottomends and a ball-receiving opening in the wall thereof, such a device canbe readily carried with the golfer.

It has also been found that by lining the inside of the body with a foamor sponge-like material, only a minimum of water and soap solution isnecessary to provide the necessary cleaning properties.

It has further been found that if a ball-receiving device including anelongate stem with a handle on its top end and a ring on its bottom endis provided, such a device may be reciprocated within the body so thatthe ring can be brought into registry with the aperture in the body toreceive the ball, following which up and down movement of theball-receiving means will effect a scrubbing action by the foam orsponge material on the ball.

It has also been found that a handle can be provided on the body of thewasher so that it can be attached to a golf cart, golf bag, etc., andcarried along with the golfer.

Finally, it has been discovered that by providing ways on the inside ofthe washer which contact part of the ring, the ring will travel in afixed and pre-determined path when it is being reciproeated, andtherefore no problem of registering the ring with the ball-receivingaperture will be encountered.

Accordingly, production of an improved portable ball washer of the typeabove-described becomes the principal object of this invention, withother objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of thefollowing brief specification considered and interpreted in view of theaccompanying drawings.

OF THE oaxwmos:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved ball washer. FIG. 2 is avertical section taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering first then FIG. 1,it will be noted that the ball washer, generally indicated by thenumeral 10, consists of a hollow, cylindrical body 11 having top andbottom walls 12 and 13 to form a substantially closed chamber. Aball-receiving aperture 15 is disposed in the wall of the body 11adjacent the top wall 12. The circumference or dimensions of thisaperture will be slightly greater than those of the conventional golfball.

The body 11 also carried a handle 14 which has two functions. First,this handle enables the user to grasp the washer with one hand whilereciprocating the ball-receiving means, which will be described later,with the other. Second, the handle 14 makes it possible to support thewasher on the golf bag or golf cart when not in use.

Considering next then FIGS. 2 and 3 in greater detail, it will be notedthat the top wall 12 of body 11 has an upwardly pro jecting protuberance12a and that a through bore 12b is formed therein.

The ball-receiving means include an elongate stem 21 which has a handle20 on one end, which in the form of the invention shown in the drawingsis in the form of a golf ball but which, of course, could take anydesired configuration.

The opposed end of the stem 21,carries a ring 22, the circumference ofwhich is sufficient to enable it to receive a golf ball.

The stem 21 freely slides in the bore 12b and, therefore, the entireball-receiving means can be reciprocated along the longitudinal axis ofthe washer. The ring 22 can thus, of course, be brought into registrywith aperture 15 to initially receive the ball B.

Considering next FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the interior ofthe body 11 is lined with substantially semi-circular foam or spongemembers 16,16. These members are bonded or secured to the inside of body11 in any suitable fashion, and one of their chief advantages is thatthey have high moisture retention properties. Also disposed within thebody 11 are 0pposed ways 17,17 and 18,18 formed of strips of fairlyrigid material which will engage part of the periphery of the ring 22,as clearly shown in FIG. 4, to ensure straight-line movement and also toensure that when the ring is pulled to its topmost position, it will bein alignment with the aperture 15.

In use or operation of the improved ball washer, it will first beassumed that a limited amount of water and soap in solution has beenplaced in the washer to impregnate the sponge or foam material 16.

At that point and when it is desired to clean a ball, it is merelynecessary to pull the handle 20 up, resulting in registry of the ring 22with the aperture 15. At that time the golf ball is inserted through theaperture, and the handle 20 is pumped up and down. At this point, and asclearly shown in FIG. 3, the ball B will be in contact with the foam orsponge material 16,16 to permit the necessary cleaning operation.

The ways 17,17 and 18,18 ensure that the ring 22 will travel in astraight-lined path or movement, therefore ensuring that it will alwaysbe capable of being brought back into registry with the aperture 15 toremove the ball B.

It has, therefore, been shown how a relatively simple, unique, andinexpensive portable balll washer has been disclosed.

It should be noted here that while some sort of plastic material mightbe suitable for the various components, the device is not intended to belimited to any particular material.

While a full and complete description of the invention has 1. anelongate stem slidably received in said aperture of been set forth inaccordance with the dictates of the Patent said top wall and Statutes,it should be understood that modifications can be 2. a handle mounted onone end of said stem and resorted to without departing from the spirithereof or the 3. a ball-receiving ring mounted on the opposed end ofscope of the appended claims. 5 said stem; and

What is claimed is: E. spaced opposed rails l. A portable ball washer,comprising; 1 extending the length ofsaid bod yand A. a hollowsubstantially cylindrical body with 2 1. an apertured top wall and anopposed bottom wall; 25 5: pposed moisture retemlon means from B.substantially semi-circular opposed moisture retention means ofabsorbent foam material lining the interior walls of said bodythroughout its length;

C. said walls of said body and said moisture retention means having atleast one ball-receiving aperture therein;

D. ball-receiving means including 3. coacting with said ring to controlthe path of movement of said ball-receiving means. 2. The device ofclaim 1 further characterized by the presence of a carrying handlesecured to said body.

# i i l

1. A portable ball washer, comprising; A. a hollow substantially cylindrical body with
 1. an apertured top wall and an opposed bottom wall; B. substantially semi-circular opposed moisture retention means of absorbent foam material lining the interior walls of said body throughout its length; C. said walls of said body and said moisture retention means having at least one ball-receiving aperture therein; D. ball-receiving means including
 1. an elongate stem slidably received in said aperture of said top wall and
 2. a handle mounted on one end of said stem and
 3. a ball-receiving ring mounted on the opposed end of said stem; and E. spaced opposed rails
 1. extending the length of said body and
 2. spacing said opposed moisture retention means from each other and
 3. coacting with said ring to control the path of movement of said ball-receiving means.
 2. a handle mounted on one end of said stem and
 2. spacing said opposed moisture retention means from each other and
 2. The device of claim 1 further characterized by the presence of a carrying handle secured to said body.
 3. coacting with said ring to control the path of movement of said ball-receiving means.
 3. a ball-receiving ring mounted on the opposed end of said stem; and E. spaced opposed rails 